Procreate on iPad isn’t simply straightforward to make use of, it’s been crafted for artists, by artists. With silky-smooth Apple Pencil assist, intuitive gesture controls, and the type of real-time responsiveness that desktop apps can solely dream of, this pocket-sized powerhouse is extra than simply among the best drawing apps on iPad.
That will help you get probably the most out of Procreate’s instruments and workflows, we’ve teamed up with sport artist Antony Ward (by way of our mates at ImagineFX) to unlock 10 secret Procreate ideas and tips that everybody could make use of. From utilizing reference photos to simply harmonising and setting color palettes, these Procreate hacks are designed to raise your artwork.
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1. Procreate Widget
(Picture: © Antony Ward)
An often-overlooked possibility is the power so as to add a Procreate widget to your iPad house display reasonably than the usual icon. The primary profit is that it means that you can immediately soar into your present challenge so you possibly can proceed working. One other benefit is that it additionally helps you to rapidly exhibit a few of your artwork. As with every iPad widget, there are alternatives to regulate its dimension, form, and place on your most well-liked format.
2. Use Reference Photos and layers
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
For those who’ve ever wanted the choice of a second reference window reasonably than utilizing the iPad’s break up display, which isn’t supreme, Procreate has acquired your again. Go to Actions>Canvas and also you’ll see a Reference possibility. When enabled, this provides you a brand new floating window you could transfer round and scale. You will have just a few choices with regard to what the window shows: you need to use it to point out the present canvas, add a reference picture, or use your face as a reference.
Right here’s one other reference trick! Everyone knows you possibly can rapidly fill an space of your work by dragging the color dropper into it, however the issue when working with line-art is that you find yourself with the crammed color on the identical layer, making it tough to edit it later. An alternative choice is to set the road artwork layer to Reference. This may allow you to rapidly fill areas on a separate layer beneath so that they’re saved aside and simply edited later.
3. On the spot Color Palette
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Quite than making an attempt to select colors from a photograph to make use of in your work, let Procreate discover the dominant shades and generate a palette for you. To do that, open up the Coloration Panel and head to the Palettes tab. Now press the ‘+’ icon within the prime nook and also you’ll be given an choice to generate a brand new palette utilizing the digicam, a file, or a photograph out of your library.
4. Non-public Images
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
When producing a timelapse video of your work, usually, the whole lot that occurs in your Procreate canvas is recorded. Generally you could want sure layers to be hidden, although, like a reference picture or a brief sketch. In Procreate, you might have the choice to import photos as Non-public Images, which creates a brand new layer that’s invisible to any timelapse recordings. So as to add one, go to Add after which Insert Picture,
however swipe it left to disclose the ‘Insert a non-public photograph’ possibility.
5. Color Concord
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Color concept performs an enormous position in artwork, and that is one thing Procreate’s builders are properly conscious of, so that they constructed instruments to assist. For those who open the Coloration Panel, you’ll see a Concord possibility alongside the underside. Selecting it will open the dial and present you the complementary color associated to what you’ve chosen. And if you happen to click on the Colours title, you’ll see an entire vary of choices obtainable.
6. Take away Fill Traces in Line-Artwork
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Dragging a Coloration Swatch onto the canvas is a fast and simple solution to fill an space, however generally the fill doesn’t fairly go all the best way, leaving a faint white line simply exterior the radius. To fight this, all you might want to do is preserve the pencil, or your finger, held down, and also you’ll see a Threshold bar seem throughout the highest of the UI. Now you can drag to the precise to extend this Threshold and get rid of your line.
7. Transfer the Brush Bar
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Do you know that the Brush Dimension and Opacity bar may be moved? Firstly, there’s the ‘Proper-hand interface’ possibility within the Prefs tab, which can mirror the bar to the other facet of the canvas. That’s nice, however you too can change its vertical place. Swipe in from exterior the display, and the bar will transfer out. Maintain holding it, and you’ll transfer up and down to regulate the place.
8. Mission Canvas
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Utilizing the reference window is a good way to rapidly see your canvas whilst you deal with a particular space, however the iPad display isn’t large, so the canvas can generally really feel cramped as you do that. An alternative choice,
in case you have a spare monitor, is to challenge your canvas onto it as you’re employed. Join the iPad to the monitor to do that, which can merely mirror the iPad display initially. Now go to Prefs and allow Mission Canvas. The canvas can be displayed however stay mounted, so it gained’t present you shifting and zooming into it as you’re employed. That is additionally nice if you happen to’re giving demonstrations.
9. Discover Layers Rapidly
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
Whereas engaged on a chunk of artwork, your layer administration will inevitably exit of the window except you prefer to organise and identify your layers as you go. Even nonetheless, when you might have lots, it may be tough to rapidly discover the one you want. Procreate has a neat possibility that allows you to maintain a finger on the display, and it’ll mechanically choose the layer you need by detecting the pixels beneath. To allow this, go to Actions>Prefs>Gesture Controls. Select Layer Choose and allow ‘Faucet and Maintain’. You may also regulate the delay wanted earlier than it’s triggered.
10. Smudge together with your finger
(Picture: © Anthony Ward)
For those who’re extra of a conventional artist who’s used to chalk, charcoal, or possibly even pencil, you’ll continuously use your fingers to rapidly smudge your work for mixing. There’s an possibility in Procreate to get an analogous impact! Return to Gesture Controls, however this time select the Smudge possibility. Merely allow Contact on the prime, and now you can smudge the display together with your finger.
